What’s the Deal with Fluoride?

Fluoride is a natural mineral found in waterways throughout the world. The element fluorine makes up a significant portion of the earth’s crust, and fluoride is one of the ions produced by this element. You frequently see it listed as included in public water supplies and toothpaste, due to its ability to fight tooth decay.

 

Do You Need Fluoride?

Tooth decay rates have fallen steadily since the 1960s, as public water supplies started adding fluoride to the chemical mix. It protects teeth by strengthening the enamel and rebuilding minerals previously destroyed by bacteria and acids, reducing tooth decay by 25 percent. Without this mineral, the chances of getting a cavity are elevated and require more hands-on care from the dentist.

 

Most commercial toothpaste also contains fluoride, including children’s products. The water supply provides part of the protection and toothpaste uses a topical route. Since people need to brush their teeth multiple times per day, the fluoride gets renewed on a consistent basis.

 

Fluoride Recommendations

Fluoride is single-handedly credited with preventing 60 percent of decay in children’s developing teeth and 35 percent in permanent teeth. The American Dental Association considers both fluoridated water and fluoride toothpaste safe for children, although you should limit too much toothpaste or fluoride rinse gets ingested.

 

You can actually check how much fluoride is in your public water supply, as they are legally required to disclose this information. If you have a private well, testing companies can analyze the chemical composition. Water treatments are available for high fluoride levels, but you may need nutrient supplements if you don’t have enough of this mineral. Your dentist can provide you with more specific instruction on exactly how much fluoride you or your child needs to be given the local conditions.

 

Bottom Line

A combination of fluoridated water and toothpaste maximizes your tooth decay protection. If you already suffer from cavities or other damage to your enamel, fluoride can kickstart the healing process. Only a small amount of this chemical is present in the water and toothpaste, resulting in a safe quantity for everyone starting from the time they get their first tooth.

 

Have more questions about fluoride? That’s is what we are here for! Give us a call at 913-721-6477.

How to Create New Year’s Resolutions That Stick

Many people have lofty New Year’s resolutions, but less than 10% of those folks actually achieve their goals. You don’t have to give up on your plans for the upcoming year, but you may need to change the way you choose them so they have some staying power.

Setting Realistic Goals

Winning the lottery or finding a million dollars on the back porch are goals with a lot of problems, but most unrealistic goal setting isn’t quite as obvious. Weight loss is on most everyone’s list, but the goal amount may exceed a healthy rate. Spend time researching common outcomes of your goals. If you want to lose weight, for example, you may base the ending number on a one pound per week loss rate.

Creating Actionable Steps

Some goals seem impossible when you view the entire process at once. Break it down into smaller steps, and you get a clear guide on how to get from point A to point B. Your research helps you determine what needs to go into the plan and the estimated timeline.

Sticking to the Plan

Your resolution may be challenging to stick with, especially if it involves major life changes. The urge to give up on the project can be overwhelming at times. If you have problems going from step to step, try breaking things down more. Several quick wins can renew motivation.

Dealing With Setbacks

Even the best plan in the world can encounter setbacks. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you run into some problems along the road. Identify the cause of the issue, revisit your steps to make any necessary adjustments and continue forward when you’re ready. If you truly don’t think you can go on, talk to a friend about the problem. A fresh perspective might give you the exact insight you need.

Conducting a Year-end Review

It’s the end of the year and you’ve reached the last step. Congratulations! It’s time to look back and evaluate what worked, what didn’t and what you want to change for the New Year. You learn more each year about the plans that work best for you, so you’re continually refining and improving this process.

What are your New Year’s resolutions or goals for 2017? We would love to hear about them! 

Don’t Let the Dentist Search Get You Down

Your dental health is an important part of your well-being, but you’d probably rather clean your bathroom than look for a dentist. If you haven’t found the right dentist for your needs, it’s natural for the entire process to be as painful as a toothache. Use these tips to figure out where you should go to keep your smile going strong!

Where to Look for a Dentist

You have many resources available to help with your dentist hunt. Online medical review sites give detailed information on other patients’ experiences with a particular practice or person, and your dental insurance website may offer a search tool that shows you nearby dentists. Friends, family and your extended social circle also have stories to share — both good and bad.

What to Consider When Choosing a Dentist

The first thing to consider is whether the dental practice is a convenient distance to your workplace or home. You don’t want to go too far out of your way, or you may discourage yourself from even making an appointment.

Does the dental practice give you a good first impression? If possible, look up pictures of the clinic online. Look for a clean, comfortable waiting room that appears welcoming, rather than stark and sterile.

Try to find information about how long you have to wait for appointments, as well. It’s of no use to discover an amazing dentist if you can’t spare an hour waiting around past your appointment time to be seen.

Some procedures, equipment and services fall under special requirements. For example, if you need complex dental services, you should look for a specialist in the needed area — not every dentist offers oral surgery or implants. And, if your blood pressure spikes when you’re in the same room as a dentist, look for a practice that offers sedation to help you relax.

Dental Insurance Options

Pay close attention to the dental insurance options provided by each practice. This type of insurance isn’t as widespread as health insurance, so the dentist may not accept any plans or only work with a limited number. Call the office and ask whether the practice works with your plan if you have any doubts.

A good dentist should be a prominent part of your personal medical team, so don’t put it off! Always let us know if there are questions we can answer specific to Kremers & Forbes, DDS. 

Don’t Let Dry Mouth Cramp Your Style

Dry mouth is more than just feeling parched before a big speaking event; it is actually a condition that if chronic, can become a health issue. Your mouth typically produces enough saliva to maintain a regularly moist environment–the digestive system needs saliva to properly break down food and your dental health also depends on it! If you run into a situation where your mouth dries out, although often only a temporary annoyance, it can lead to major problems if it’s an ongoing occurrence.

What Causes Dry Mouth

Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is a listed side effect of many over-the-counter and prescription medications. It’s also a potential side effect of medical treatments such as chemotherapy. The problem can range from barely noticeable to severe dryness.

You may also encounter this issue as a symptom of certain diseases or injuries. Some of the more common illnesses related to dry mouth include stroke, dehydration, diabetes and cystic fibrosis. Nerve damage to your neck can also disrupt the normal function of your saliva glands.

Some lifestyle choices can lead to dry mouth, such as smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco.

Healthy and Still Yummy Treats for the Holidays

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, but it’s not always kind to your calorie count! These healthy Christmas recipes deliver plenty of flavor without sending you to the store for larger clothes after the celebrations are over.

Kid-Friendly

The energy generated by kids at Christmas time could fuel a perpetual motion machine. During the dinner preparations, recruit their help with fun and easy-to-put-together appetizers. This festive holiday salad is adorable and healthy, and it lets children add their own creative touches to the plate.

Side Dish

The mashed potatoes may be tempting, but you can substitute this side dish with a healthier option. Roasted butternut squash with spicy onions is an exciting taste combination that also has the benefit of being a make-ahead recipe.

Main Dish

Prime rib is full of fat, and ham takes your sodium through the roof. It’s time to take an unconventional path: seafood. This main dish protein is a staple of Sicilians’ Feast of the Seven Fishes and packs a healthy punch. Salt-crusted baked whole fish looks visually impressive and makes the perfect centerpiece for your dinner.

Dessert

Christmas desserts are a sugar bomb waiting to happen — or are they? This chocolate yule log recipe cleverly uses yogurt and quality chocolate to reduce the sugar content without compromising on flavor. A fresh fruit accompaniment adds a bit of the sweetness back but brings plenty of fiber with it.

Snacks

Travel time, getting the presents wrapped, putting up the tree and preparing holiday meals cut into your normal routine. Snacks in between keep you going, but the temptation to eat calorie-laden treats is almost overwhelming. Healthy snacks give you the energy you need to make it through the holiday in one piece, even if you’re visiting the in-laws. Blueberry Greek yogurt truffles satisfy a sweet tooth and add more protein to your day. Peanut butter cookie dough balls are a breeze to make, taste just like the real thing and don’t contain any flour at all.

Don’t spend the holidays worrying about your waistline. Use these healthy recipes to mix up your Christmas dinner staples and stay on top of your calorie intake.

Before the holidays get too busy, give us a call and get your routine check up on the calendar for the New Year! 913-721-6477.

Are Thumb-sucking and Pacifier Use a Threat to My Child’s Oral Health?

Many children suck their thumbs or have a pacifier to soothe them during the day or night. This natural reflex action usually begins very early in infancy, and even babies in the womb can be seen sucking on their fingers or thumbs. It’s a seemingly harmless action that helps babies to feel comforted and secure, but could these soothing habits pose a threat to oral health?

Soothing or Damaging? What Are the Risks?

Thumbs and pacifiers can both present a risk to tooth and mouth development, and the effects may not be immediately obvious. Damage can be insidious and can occur over a long period of time, and it may not be until the adult teeth start to appear that problems are apparent. Some of these problems can include:

Tooth decay — Dipping a pacifier into sugary substances may have an instant and short-term calming effect on a baby or toddler, but the damage can be long-term. These sugars can produce harmful acids that attack tooth enamel. Pediatric tooth decay is a problem seen by many dentists but one that can be prevented by limiting pacifier use and avoiding any sugary dips.

Jaw misalignment — Pacifiers and thumbs can both cause misalignment of the jaw if used for too long. Pacifiers are often produced in shapes and sizes that are simply awkward for the mouth to hold naturally. As a result, the jaw overcompensates and can become misaligned as a result.

Narrowing roof of the mouth — During childhood, certain areas of the mouth can be very pliable. Repeated and prolonged use of a pacifier or thumb could cause narrowing of the roof of the mouth, and this could cause problems when permanent teeth start to develop.

Slanting teeth — Slanted or crooked adult teeth are often the result of prolonged or intensive thumb or pacifier sucking.

Safe Limits and Best Practices for Weaning Off

If you are worried about thumb or pacifier sucking, the good news is that children learn other ways to soothe and comfort themselves as they grow older. Most recommend that you began to wean your child of a pacifier around the age of 1, and have it resolved by age 2. Thumb-sucking can be trickier, but with peer pressure and age, most children will eliminate that on their own by age 4 or 5.

Here are some of the ways you can wean your child off or limit use of the thumb or pacifier:

• Try to limit use to nap times and bedtimes. If the pacifier is only for sleeping, it can just stay in the crib!
• Introduce a reward system and give your child a token or point every time they go without their chosen “soother” when they would normally use it.
• Ask your pediatric dentist to encourage your child to stop–perhaps it is a milestone for the next checkup!
• Offer your child soothing alternatives, such as a favorite blanket or teddy bear.
• Time to be a “big kid!” Toddlers are really into becoming “big kids”, so if you can associate pacifiers and thumb-sucking as something meant for babies, that usually helps move the process along.

Regardless of the tactic, try to use a positive, rewarding tone vs harping on the negative. That being said,  stand firm when a step towards weaning is made. If the pacifier is going to stay in the bed, it needs to stay in the bed! Don’t confuse the child with giving in sometimes. Remember this too will pass, and we are here to help along the way!

---

Have more concerns surrounding your child’s oral health? Give us a call at 913-721-6477.

 

So Just How Many Times a Day Should I Brush My Teeth?

Are you brushing enough? According to the American Dental Association, you should brush your teeth twice a day, but what if there are other factors to consider? Is there such a thing as overbrushing? Should you brush after certain foods and just how do you use floss anyway?

We’ll answer these questions and more so you can keep your teeth sparkling, your breath fresh and your mouth healthy every day.

Overbrushing – Is There Such a Thing?

You know regular brushing is essential for keeping your teeth and gums healthy, but you can have too much of a good thing. Overbrushing can lead to a condition called “toothbrush abrasion,” which can cause receding gums and sensitive teeth. Most dentists will say twice a day, for no more than two minutes at a time, is plenty.

Should I Brush After Every Meal?

Some dentists advise brushing teeth one hour after every meal, and it usually comes down to personal preference. As long as you are brushing twice a day and not overbrushing, you will typically capture all food debris, keep bad breath at bay and keep your smile bright.

Are There Times When I Shouldn’t Brush?

If you have eaten any acidic foods such as citrus fruit, take care not to brush your teeth for at least 30 minutes afterward. Citric acid can weaken the enamel on your teeth, and brushing too soon afterward could damage the weakened enamel.

What’s the Deal With Flossing?

Okay, you probably have a carton of dental floss in your bathroom cabinet. Do you use it regularly? Do you even know how to use it? The best time to use floss is before you brush your teeth. Holding the floss taut between your index finger and thumb, move the thread up and down and in between each tooth. Any debris will be caught on the floss, and any gunk that remains in the mouth will be taken care of when you brush.

So Really? Twice a Day?

First thing in the morning and late at night is usually enough brushing to keep your teeth and gums healthy. However, there are times when you might want to add an extra brushing session during the day. For example, if you have eaten a meal with garlic and want to keep your breath fresh, a good brushing will leave your mouth minty fresh. Brushing after drinking coffee and red wine will also help to prevent stains. Use your best judgement 🙂

When was the last time you were in for your routine dental cleaning? It might be time. Give us a call at 913-7216477 and get an appointment on our books. We would love to see you!

Create a Thanksgiving Celebration Everyone is Thankful For

Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time for gathering with your family and giving thanks. However, the celebration often becomes mired down in stress and mismatched expectations. When things don’t go right, often tension leads to fighting or old family grudges erupt in the middle of cutting the turkey. Here are a few ways to create a low-stress Thanksgiving everyone can be thankful for!

Let Go of the Little Things

You can spend days planning your celebration, but things will still go wrong. Do your best to control sure-fire stress triggers, such as getting as much food done in advance and hiring a cleaning service to take some of the responsibilities off your shoulders. Don’t view perfection as your goal post for this holiday–focus on whether people are having a good time with each other! No one will remember that the turkey took five extra minutes to get to the table.

Laugh Things Off

Sometimes you feel like you’re starring in a television show where everything goes wrong. Don’t get upset. Instead, laugh it off–sometimes laughter can break through family barriers and relieve any stress in the room. Just of the funny memories you will have for future holiday stories to share!

Set up Group Activities

Some family members may not see each other outside of Thanksgiving. You can avoid awkward silences by setting up some group activities for everyone. Board games are one option you can use to bring everyone together after dinner–or if it is nice outside, initiate a game of flag football, bocce ball, or take the fam on a walk or hike. That will benefit everyone in more way than one!

Take the Time To Smile

No matter the dynamic, remembering just having the privilege to spend time with your friends and family is always a smile-worthy occasion. Think about what you’re thankful for, such as a good relationship with your kids, the opportunity to travel or excellent performance at work. Center your thoughts on everything you have in your life, rather than getting stressed about situations outside of your control.

Forget About Black Friday Sales

You see commercials and ads all over the place about the record-breaking sales going on, but do you really want to get out of bed to deal with massive crowds? You run headlong into all sorts of stress, from the heavy traffic to the impossibility of getting a parking space. It just isn’t worth it. Take the day to just be together.

Thanksgiving can easily become the most frustrating time of year if you let it. Be proactive about steering away from stress, letting go of the idea of a perfect celebration and laughing off everything that goes wrong. Then it will really be a holiday to remember. 

Thanksgiving Meal Ideas That Won’t Leave You Stuffed

Holiday meal prep is hard enough, but it becomes even more challenging when you try to keep it simple and somewhat healthy. Everywhere you look, you see recipes adding butter by the pound, baked goods falling from the rafters and carb-laden sides taking center stage. Don’t resign yourself to a Thanksgiving dinner that has you falling into a food coma for the next three days1 Use these simple meal ideas to lighten things up.

Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Soup

A warm soup gets your celebration started and chases away winter’s chill. The spicy and smoky red peppers contrast nicely with the sweet tang of tomato, and you can prepare this dish in advance. Check that item off your day-of to-do list!

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

The robust flavor of Brussel sprouts comes out the most when you put a pan of them in the oven. Olive oil enhances the flavor and a bit of sea salt ties everything together. Chop prosciutto and sprinkle it on the Brussel sprouts to add another flavor element.

Mashed Cauliflower

Mashed potatoes often take the place of the side dish star of Thanksgiving, but they’re also full of carbs that can stick you on the couch until the New Year! Cauliflower offers a tasty alternative, and you can make it even healthier by using sour cream or Greek yogurt rather than heavy cream or milk.

Brined Turkey Breast

Want to avoid the long hours of baking an entire turkey while still offering a juicy star of the show to your guests? Brine turkey breasts so you can take advantage of the low-fat content of this part of the bird while ensuring every bite tastes as good as the dark meat that you passed on.

Pork Tenderloin

Not in the mood for turkey? Pork tenderloin is another lean meat option that also takes well to brining. You can roast it in the oven or cut it down into medallions and saute it for a quick preparation time.

Sweet Potato Pie

Eating a healthier Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t mean that you lose out on dessert. Sweet potato pie gives you a great tasting filling that doesn’t load you down with as many calories as other options.

You don’t need to run out to the stores on Black Friday and buy all new pants because nothing fits you after your holiday celebration! Use these healthier options to enjoy your dinner without feeling overstuffed, and end up having a happier—and even more thankful—holiday season!

Top 10 Tips for Flying with Kids

Your holiday trip is booked. You’ve received your travel itinerary, your flight tickets and your hotel confirmation. You’re all set. Your only concern? The kids are coming too. Very soon, all of you are going to be stuck 35,000 miles above the ground in a metal tube. But don’t panic. These 10 tips for flying with kids will help you to avoid the total meltdown. 

1. Plan Activities in 15-Minute Slots

Don’t peak too soon with your activities. Introduce a new activity every 15 minutes (you may get away with longer) and pack lots of different books, cards, travel games, mobile devices and snacks to keep boredom at bay.

2. Night Flights for the Win

A night flight, especially if you are traveling long distance, could be your savior. Night flights are also often cheaper than flights during daylight hours.

3. Pack the Kids’ Favorite Home Comforts

Packing a few home comforts in your bag could help settle anxious children. A favorite bear, cozy pajamas or an animal neck pillow could be just the thing to settle them down when they get anxious or restless in the air.

4. Snack Happy

Save money and your sanity (sugar rushes are even worse in the air) by packing plenty of healthy and filling snacks. Think: veggies, nuts and granola bars.

5. Make a Memory Book

Bring a little notebook with you and call it a memory book! Have you child write or draw the special moments along the way–including those made at the airport and on the plane! Bring some additional embellishments like stickers or different crayons to make it special.

6. Grab a Surprise Bag

In addition to the activities you bring on board for the kids, pack a surprise bag filled with cheap toys and activities they haven’t seen before. The surprise factor often trumps boredom.

7. Go for a Quick Walk

Walk your child up and down the aisle a few times during your journey. Your little one will love the attention they get from other passengers, and you’ll get to stretch your legs, too.

8. Ask for Help

If you are struggling, the flight attendants are usually happy to help. Don’t be afraid to ask if you need extra snacks or headphones for a nervous child — or just a hand getting them to the bathroom.

9. Watch the Same Movie

Most longer flights have in-flight entertainment. Make the movies a special family moment by watching the same movie as your child.

10. Ease Their Ears

Babies and young children are unable to equalize their ears naturally, and this can be very painful. Feed babies during takeoff and landing, or bring along pacifiers or ear plugs.

 

We have all been there. No matter what happens, try to remain calm and smile. Most people have been in your shoes before and are helpful in trying times. Remember this is family time–make some memories and make the most of this trip together! Happy travels!